Shrewsbury pedestrian dies after Route 20 accident

Thursday

Nov 29, 2012 at 7:00 PMNov 29, 2012 at 7:54 PM

By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

A local man was struck and killed by a sport utility vehicle on Route 20 last night.

Police did not identify the victim, who was struck in the eastbound lane while trying to cross the street near the Edgemere Mobile Home Park at 151 Hartford Turnpike, just before 6 p.m. They said they were withholding his identity pending notification of family members.

Neighbors at the mobile home park said the man who was hit was probably in his 40s and took care of his brother, who is a severe diabetic.

Police said the 2010 Jeep Liberty that struck the man was driven by Joanne Breault of Jericho, Vt.

As an accident reconstruction team took photographs and measurements, residents of the mobile home park said cars routinely speed on Route 20 and rarely stop for pedestrians in the nearby crosswalk.

The neighbors said the victim’s brother sent him to the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts to get aspirin. When he didn’t return, his brother came outside and discovered the accident. He recognized his brother’s hat, the neighbors said. The victim is a nice man who enjoys walking his dog and bicycling, the neighbors said.

The victim’s brother briefly spoke with police and then was driven to the hospital in a police cruiser.

The victim was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester.

All eastbound traffic on Route 20 was initially blocked from the nearby Worcester line; police eventually allowed traffic through as they investigated.

The accident is under investigation by Officer Richard H. Fiske; the Central Mass. Law Enforcement Regional Reconstruction Team assisted police at the scene.